Tampa has played an important role in the JFK assassination. From the connection of Santo Trafficantie too Jack Ruby in Cuba, Tampa has been important in JFK lore.
Many of us drive by the University of Tampa every day and may never of seen this stature of the late President Kennedy. If we have, we may of wondered why there was a monument here in Tampa.
On November 18, 1963 only 5 days before his assassination JFK made a visit to Tampa! His limousine was unloaded off air force one at Mac-dill Air force Base and his motorcade traveled Thur Tampa.
The route proceeded up Dale Mabry, East on GRAND CENTRAL (Kennedy blvd was once called Grand Central. It was changed after his murder to honor the slain President) Into downtown, north on Franklin past the old Mass Brothers and Kress building, left on Tyler over the Cass Street bridge and ended up at the Armory on Armenia where he gave a speech.
Tony Zappone was a 16 year old high School student
who took a series of award winning photos for his school project. He was chosen by the Tampa Tribune, given a press pass, and had access to the president.
The image on the right is haunting to me. Zappone's image is very smiler to the one taken in Dallas at the moment the shots rang out. Who knows, maybe in some alternative universe the assassination happened in Tampa!
As you can see presidents no longer travel in open air convertibles with cheering crowds on the sidewalks. To bad it has to be that way.
The image on the left is Franklin Street today taken from the very spot Zappone was standing. Some of the buildings are still there.
At UT there are several commemorative plaques that surround the statue of JFK and they have quotes from the late president. One of them I believe is relevant to us in light of recent events. It comes from his inaugural address:
"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty."
I could not add a thing to that.
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